A former Ross Township man fell to his death in California while mountain climbing.

Charles Duerig, 50, was an avid mountain climber who was scaling Mount Russell with a friend when they went off course in a rain storm, and their equipment failed.

He fell 100 feet.

The 1975 graduate of North Hills High School is also an avid skier and ultra marathoner.

His parents and three of his four brothers still live in the area.

Younger brother Paul Duerig said the idea that he would never be able to pick up the phone and call him again hasn't sunk in yet.

"He was in good shape and very healthy so this is a shock," said Paul Duerig.

Paul Duerig said the two spoke often and that he also took trips out west twice a year to see him.

"It was a familiar course and not too dangerous," he added.

According to his brother, the area where Charles Duerig was found was hard to get to, and the stormy weather didn't help. Crews discovered the body the next day.

"We're five brothers and have been kind of a set our whole lives. It is like a big hole and it will be a hole in my life," said Paul Duerig. "He was a very happy, very sociable, real friendly guy."

Charles Duerig came from a family of engineers and has climbed mountains in Europe and the United States for more than 30 years.

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